What is HDFN?
Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is an immune-mediated red blood cell (RBC) disorder that occurs when a baby’s RBCs break down quickly, which is called hemolysis. HDFN is caused by a mismatch between a mother’s and her baby’s blood type (A, B, AB, or O) or Rhesus (Rh) factor (Rh-positive or Rh-negative) during pregnancy. Numerous antibodies to RBC antigens can be linked to HDFN, such as those from the ABO and Rh blood group systems.
What is the cause of HDFN?
Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN) is caused by a mismatch between a mother’s and her baby’s blood type (A, B, AB, or O) or Rhesus (Rh) factor (Rh-positive or Rh-negative) during pregnancy. Numerous antibodies to RBC antigens can be linked to HDFN, such as those from the ABO and Rh blood group systems.
Although the major antigens on human RBCs are the O, A, and B antigens, occasionally another antigen—a protein called the Rh(D) antigen—may be present. Those who are Rh-positive have the Rh(D) antigen on their RBCs, which is known as RhD-positive. Those who are Rh-negative do not have the Rh(D) antigen on their RBCs, which is known as RhD-negative.
The most severe cases of HDFN are associated with an incompatibility in the Rh factor.
How does a fetus acquire the Rh factor?
The Rh factor is passed from a parent to the child through their genes, meaning a child can inherit the Rh factor from one of their parents.
Most people are Rh-positive and inherit the Rh factor from one of their parents. When a fetus does not inherit the Rh factor, it is then considered Rh-negative.
A baby will be RhD-negative if it does not inherit any copies of the RhD antigen. When the mother is Rh-negative and her fetus is Rh-positive, this is known as Rh incompatibility.
Read more about HDFN causes and risk factors
What is the current treatment for HDFN?
The administration of Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) to RhD-negative mothers throughout their pregnancy and then shortly following the birth of an RhD-positive baby has dramatically decreased the incidence of Rh-hemolytic disease. RhIg can prevent severe fetal anemia from occurring in future pregnancies.
What is cord blood?
Cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and the umbilical cord following a baby’s birth. The rope-like structure known as the umbilical cord connects the mother to the unborn baby throughout a pregnancy. Once the baby is born, the placenta is usually discarded, together with the cord blood that is contained within it.
What is cord blood testing?
Once the umbilical cord has been cut, a sample of blood from that cord may be obtained for testing. Such tests can measure different substances and check for the presence of infections or other conditions.
What is cord blood banking?
Sometimes individuals want to bank—that is, save and store—their baby’s umbilical cord to be used in the future for the treatment of certain diseases.
The umbilical cord contains blood vessels that offer nourishment to the baby and remove waste products. Cord blood, which is rich in stem cells, can be used to treat a variety of cancers, immune system deficiencies and genetic disorders. Stem cells, which are considered special “building block” cells, can develop into many different kinds of cells, including blood cells, bone marrow cells and brain cells.
What is the life-saving potential of stem cells obtained from cord blood?
Stem cells contained in cord blood can be used for the treatment of certain blood disorders, such as Hodgkin disease, leukemia and some forms of anemia. Research is currently under way to learn whether stem cells can be used to treat other types of disorders as well.
Among patients with a variety of serious diseases and conditions, cord blood transplants have been shown to offer a cure.
When is cord blood banking used in HDFN?
Cord blood testing is indicated when the maternal history suggests the possibility of HDFN. This may occur in those with maternal blood group O, maternal Rh-negative blood, a positive maternal screen, or a history of clinically significant antibodies, such as those from the ABO and Rh blood group systems.
